Easter Egg Hunt

We have taken Lily the last three years to the church Easter Egg hunt. Her first easter she was only two weeks old, so no easter egg hunting for her!! The second year she didn't really understand the concpet of an easter egg hunt. She had more fun picking the eggs up and throwing them back out of the basket!! The last two years she really has had alot of fun hunting easter eggs. I am looking forwarded to many more years of hunting easter eggs with Lily.

Lily her first Easter-Two weeks old March 2008

2nd Easter-April 2009, 13 months old
3rd Easter-April 2010, 2 years old
4th Easter-April 24th, 3 years old

Hunting for the Easter Eggs

Posing with her Easter Eggs

Look at ALL those Easter Eggs:)

It was a great Easter.

NO Easter Eggs HERE-Part 2

This year instead of making hard-bolied Easter Eggs I decide to make Resurrection Easter Cookies with Lily. I found the idea from Lauren at Modern Day Knights. When I would make the traditional Easter Eggs I would be the only one who would eat them afterwards, so I figured instead of wasting the eggs this year I will teach Lily the reason WHY we have Easter. This will be a tradition that I do every year with Lily and eventually our other children:)

These are the ingredients you will need to make the cookies!!

Lily beating the pecans just the way Jesus was beaten.

Add the egg to show how Jesus gave up his life for our life. Between this step we added the vingear to show how the soldiers gave him vingear to drink instead of water and the salt for his salty tears that Jesus and his followers shed.

Adding the sugar to show the sweetest part about this is that Jesus loved us!!

Getting ready to mix it all up.

Using tape to seal up the tomb. (oven)

The cookies in the tomb.

You leave the cookies in the oven all night. The next day you unseal the oven and pull out the cookies.

Lily opening the oven to get the cookies out.

They are supposed to be hollow on the inside. I don't think I made the peaks stiff enough. They still turned out somewhat hollow.

Finished cookies!!

Lily had a great time making the cookies. I am so glad I found the post Lauren wrote about these cookies. I think it is a great way to teach young children that Easter is not just all about the candy, eggs and easter bunny. That Jesus gave his life so that we could have ours!!! I can't wait to do this again with Lily:)

Stay tuned to Part 3!!

Easter 2011-Part 1

I am going to make three separate post about our Easter Weekend. If I make one post it will be picture overload!!! To start with I always try to take some sort of Easter Pictures every year!!! This is what we got this year....

My little Easter Bunny

Our Family Picture on Easter Morning before church.

Lily took mine and Kane's picture. She is getting better at taking pictures:)

Kane and Lily!!

Lily and I!!!

We had a great Easter Sunday!!! Stay tuned for Part 2!!

Delay

A few people have asked about the Easter cookies, Easter pictures and everything in between...I promise I will find time this weekend to post them!!! Between TAKS testing this week...fun fun...and coming down with a cold...I have ZERO energy to do anything!!! Have a great week:)
Jaime

5 Question Friday

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then go link up here!!!

1. What is your favorite Easter tradition? Well, I don't really have any Easter tradition yet!!! I will however start an Easter tradition this year. I will be making these Easter Cookies with Lily this year and plan to every year!!! I really want her to understand the meaning behind Easter and not just because the Easter Bunny comes!!!

2. Are you a "shower" or a "long, hot bath" kind of person? I am a shower girl. I rarely take baths. If I do its because I am stressed or so tired that I just need some "me"time!!!

3. Can you parallel park and if so when is the last time you did it? I am very proud to say that I can parallel park. I don't do it often but can if I need to!!! The last time I did it...don't remember because I don't go out of my way to make sure I need to do it.

4. What is your favorite Easter candy? I don't really have a favorite Easter candy. I do like the Recess Eggs...but I wouldn't say my favorite.

5. Easter: do you go all out with the Easter Bunny or focus on the religious part of the holiday? We will focus more on the religious part with Lily and the reason behind Easter. But we will also do the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg hunting!!! Easter has to be one of my favorite holiday's. I love shopping for a cute Easter dress for Lily, getting her things for her Easter basket and just spending time with my family!!! It has been a HARD 6 months with Kane being laid off, but if there is one thing I have learned through this experience is that GOD will not give me more than I can handle at one time!!! I have become so much more closer to him through this journey. And I want to celebrate HIM and everything Jesus did for us this Easter!!!

Now go Link up...I want to see your answers!!! Happy Easter:)

Easter Cookies

I wanted to post this early for all my blog readers out there...the three of them:) Especially for the ones who have kiddos!!! I found this Easter Cookie recipe on someone else's blog and I wanted to share it with you. Here is the link to the actual blog... Thank you Lauren at Modern Day Knights for sharing this recipe!!!


To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
John 19:1-3 (New International Version)
John 19
Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.


Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
John 19:28-30 (New International Version)
The Death of Jesus
28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
John 10:10-11 (New International Version)
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.


Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
Luke 23:27 (New International Version)
27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
Psalm 34:8 (New International Version)
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
John 3:16 (New International Version)
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Isaiah 1:18 (New International Version)
18 "Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
John 3:1-3 (New International Version)
John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]"
Footnotes:
a. John 3:3 Or born from above; also in verse 7


Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Matthew 27:57-60 (New International Version)
The Burial of Jesus
57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.
Matthew 27:65-66 (New International Version)
65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
John 16:20 (New International Version)
20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
John 16:22 (New International Version)
22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.


On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9
Matthew 28
The Resurrection
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him

He Is Risen!

We are going to start this tradition with Lily this year. It's important to us that she understands the meaning behind "Easter" and just not the candy and bunnies!!! The candy and bunnies is the fun part, but we need to remember that Why we celebrate Easter!!!

Happy Easter to all my friends and family!!! Enjoy this recipe and I hope it becomes a tradition in your family as well!!! Thanks again to Lauren at Modern Day Knights!!!